Ocular surface and meibomian gland evaluation in euthyroid Graves' ophthalmopathy.

PURPOSE: Euthyroid Graves' ophthalmology (EGO) refers to the subgroup of thyroid eye disease patients with distinct clinical presentations. This study evaluated the ocular surface and meibomian gland changes in EGO patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at The Chinese University of Hong Kong including 34 EGO patients and 34 age-and sex- matched healthy controls. Outcome measures include anterior segment examination, keratographic and meibographic imaging. RESULTS: Between 34 EGO patients and 34 age and sex-matched healthy controls, EGO was associated with a higher ocular surface disease index (P < 0.01), higher severity of meibomian gland dropout (upper: P < 0.001, lower: P < 0.00001) and higher percentage of partial blinking (P = 0.0036). The worse affected eyes of the EGO patients were associated with corneal staining (P = 0.0019), eyelid telangiectasia (P = 0.0009), eyelid thickening (P = 0.0013), eyelid irregularity (P = 0.0054), meibomian gland plugging (P < 0.00001), expressibility (P < 0.00001), and meibum quality (P < 0.00001). When the two eyes of the same EGO patient were compared, the degree of meibomian gland dropout was higher among the worse affected eyes (upper: P < 0.00001, and lower: P < 0.00001). Tear meniscus height, lipid layer thickness, and noninvasive break-up time were comparable between the two eyes of EGO patients and also between EGO patients and healthy controls. TMH was positively correlated with the degree of exophthalmos (r = 0.383, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: EGO patients have more ocular surface complications and meibomian gland dropouts than healthy controls. Almost 60% of them had dry eye symptoms, but aqueous deficiency was not apparent. Further studies are warranted to clarify the mechanism of dry eye in EGO. (249 words).

Systemic Involvement in Immunoglobulin G4-Related Ophthalmic Disease.

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin G4-related ophthalmic disease (IgG4-ROD) poses clinical challenges due to its heterogeneous ocular and systemic manifestations. We aim to report the systemic involvement and the clinical, serological and radiological associations of a cohort of Chinese patients. METHODS: A territory-wide, biopsy-proven, Chinese cohort. A retrospective, masked chart review of medical records, orbital images, and histopathology reports. RESULTS: A total of 122 (65 male) patients with a follow-up of 81 ± 49 (24 to 84) months were reviewed. Ninety (74%) patients presented bilaterally. Subacute upper eyelid swelling was the commonest presentation (82/122, 67%). During follow-up, 91/122 patients (75%) underwent extra-orbital imaging including computer tomography (692 films), ultrasonography (182 films), magnetic resonance imaging (76 films) and whole body FDG-PET scan (33 films). Eighty-six (95%) of these 91 patients had extra-orbital involvement radiologically (2.7 ± 1.6 regions, range: 0 to 9). Lymph node was the most prevalent (N = 60,66%), followed by salivary gland (N = 51,56%), lung (N = 49,54%), kidney (N = 22, 24%), hepatobiliary tree (N = 18, 20%) and pancreas (N = 17, 19%). Other organs include thyroid, aorta, meninges/brain and skin. Twenty-eight (23%) patients had allergic diseases (19 asthma, 16 allergic rhinitis, and 6 eczemas). Fifty-seven (48%) patients had paranasal sinusitis. Serum eosinophilia was associated with a higher number (3.24 versus 2.52, P = 0.0304) of organ involvement. Patients with deep organ involvement was associated with a higher age of IgG4-ROD onset (70 ± 12 versus 56 ± 13, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: 95% of the patients who underwent systemic imaging in our cohort had systemic organ involvement. An early physicians' assessment and radiological imaging are recommended after the diagnosis of IgG4-ROD.

Enterococcus faecalis suppresses Staphylococcus aureus-induced NETosis and promotes bacterial survival in polymicrobial infections.

Enterococcus faecalis is an opportunistic pathogen that is frequently co-isolated with other microbes in wound infections. While E. faecalis can subvert the host immune response and promote the survival of other microbes via interbacterial synergy, little is known about the impact of E. faecalis-mediated immune suppression on co-infecting microbes. We hypothesized that E. faecalis can attenuate neutrophil-mediated responses in mixed-species infection to promote survival of the co-infecting species. We found that neutrophils control E. faecalis infection via phagocytosis, ROS production, and degranulation of azurophilic granules, but it does not trigger neutrophil extracellular trap formation (NETosis). However, E. faecalis attenuates Staphylococcus aureus-induced NETosis in polymicrobial infection by interfering with citrullination of histone, suggesting E. faecalis can actively suppress NETosis in neutrophils. Residual S. aureus-induced NETs that remain during co-infection do not impact E. faecalis, further suggesting that E. faecalis possess mechanisms to evade or survive NET-associated killing mechanisms. E. faecalis-driven reduction of NETosis corresponds with higher S. aureus survival, indicating that this immunomodulating effect could be a risk factor in promoting the virulence polymicrobial infection. These findings highlight the complexity of the immune response to polymicrobial infections and suggest that attenuated pathogen-specific immune responses contribute to pathogenesis in the mammalian host.

Ocular Surface Evaluation in Immunoglobulin G4-Related Ophthalmic Disease.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the functional and structural changes of the meibomian glands and ocular surface in immunoglobulin G4-related ophthalmic disease (IgG4-ROD) patients. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, matched case-control comparison study. METHODS: This study included 64 patients with biopsy-proven IgG4-ROD (aged 63.4 ± 12.2 years, 39 male) and 64 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Patients were managed by hospitals covering the publicly funded ophthalmology service in Hong Kong. Outcome measures included anterior segment examination and keratographic and meibographic imagings. RESULTS: A total of 64 worst-affected eyes of the 64 IgG4-ROD patients were analyzed. Corneal fluorescein staining (P = .0187), lid margin telangiectasia (P = .0360), lid-parallel conjunctival folds (P = .0112), papillae (P = .0393), meibomian gland plugging (P = .0001), meibomian gland expressibility (P = .0001), and meibum quality (P = .0001) were more significant in IgG4-ROD patients compared with healthy controls. Both upper and lower meibomian gland dropouts (P = .001 and .0003), and tear meniscus height (P = .0001) were higher in IgG4-ROD patients. Non-invasive tear break-up time (NITBUT) (P = .0166) and Schirmer test results (P = .0243) were lower in IgG4-ROD patients. Upper (r = 0.336, P = .0140) meibomian gland dropouts and NITBUT (r = -0.293, P = .0497) were positively and negatively correlated with the IgG4-ROD onset age, respectively. The number of extraocular organ involvement was negatively correlated with the Schirmer test(r = -0.341, P = .0167). Lower NITBUT was found in IgG4-ROD eyes with lacrimal gland enlargement than in IgG4-ROD eyes without lacrimal gland enlargement radiologically (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: IgG4-ROD patients showed features of both aqueous tear deficiency and evaporative dry eye disease. We recommend ocular surface evaluation to all patients newly diagnosed with IgG4-ROD. Further studies are warranted to clarify the mechanism of IgG4-related dry eye disease.

Burnishing of exposed porous polyethylene orbital implant: is it useful?

OBJECTIVE: To describe and report the surgical outcomes of the burnishing technique for exposed porous polyethylene (PP) orbital implants. METHODS: A retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent repair of an exposed PP orbital implant at Hong Kong Eye Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong, between January 2002 and April 2022 was conducted. Exposed PP orbital implants were burnished with an electric drill. The exposed area was then covered by a donor scleral graft followed by conjunctival wound closure. Patients with a shallow lower eyelid fornix would undergo additional fornix deepening procedures that mobilize the conjunctiva and provide adequate coverage of the implant. RESULTS: Six patients who had exposed PP orbital implants following enucleation (n = 4) and evisceration (n = 2) underwent repair. Five of the six patients did not experience any recurrence at an average follow-up of 25 months (range, 7-42 months). One patient who suffered from endophthalmitis experienced orbital implant re-exposure 16 months after the revision was managed by reimplantation of an acrylic implant and wrapping with both donor scleral graft and dermis fat graft. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we described a burnishing technique for repairing exposed PP orbital implants. Our technique is effective in preventing implant re-exposure and is easy to perform.

Efficacy and Safety of 6-Weekly versus 12-Weekly Intravenous Methylprednisolone in Moderate-to-Severe Active Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and safety of 6-weekly and 12-weekly intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) regimens in moderate-to-severe, active thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) patients. BASIC PROCEDURES: Retrospective comparative study of patients who received IVMP between January 2011 and July 2021 at the Thyroid Eye Clinic, the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Outcome measures included the 7-item clinical activity score (CAS), exophthalmos, extraocular muscle motility (EOMy), marginal reflex distance (MRD), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), the requirement of additional treatment, and complications. MAIN FINDINGS: A total of 65 (63% (41/65) females) moderate-to-severe, active TAO patients aged 50 ± 13 (25-74) years received 6-weekly (n = 22) or 12-weekly (n = 43) IVMP. Sex, age, smoking status, and Graves' disease status were comparable in the two groups (all p > 0.05). CAS at week 6 (p = 0.0279), 12 (p = 0.00228), and 52 (p = 0.0228) were lower at each time for the 12-weekly group. Exophthalmos improved more at week 6 (p = 0.0453) and 12 (p = 0.0347) in the 12-weekly group. The improvement of diplopia, MRD1, MRD2, and EOMy were comparable between the two groups. More patients in the 6-weekly group (p = 0.00169) required additional treatments including IVMP+/-ORT. Patients in the 6-weekly group who did not require additional treatment had a lower presenting CAS (p = 0.0193) than those who required additional treatment. The total numbers of adverse events were comparable between the two groups.

Malignancies in Immunoglobulin G4-related ophthalmic disease.

PURPOSE: Clinical phenotypes in Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) according to the patterns of affecting organs have different risks of malignancies. We attempt to determine the association of malignancies with IgG4-related ophthalmic disease (IgG4-ROD). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: Review of medical records, orbital images and histopathology reports in a territory-wide cohort of biopsy proven IgG4-ROD patients from 2005-2019. FINDINGS: Among 122 patients who had biopsies taken from adnexal lesions including lacrimal glands (n = 108), orbital mass (n = 30), infiltrated orbital fat (n = 10), conjunctiva (n = 2) or extraocular muscles (n = 3), 13% (16/122) developed malignancies over 73 ± 48months' follow-up. There were 9 cases of ocular adnexal lymphoma (OAL) and 7 extra-orbital malignancies. Compared with the general population, the incidence of OAL was significantly higher (standardized incidence ratios, SIRs = 10.0, 95%CI = 4.5-17.6) while that of extra-orbital malignancies was similar. The SIRs was highest within the first year (SIR = 46.7, 95%CI = 18.5-87.6) when 7 OAL were concomitantly diagnosed. Patients who developed OAL or extra-orbital malignancies were older than other patients at IgG4-ROD diagnosis (64.9 ± 7.1, 68.3 ± 8.5 versus 55.2 ± 15.0 years, P < 0.05). Asymmetric lacrimal gland enlargement (78% versus 13%), lack of frontal (0% versus 12%) or infraorbital nerve enlargement (0% versus 36%) were associated with OAL (all P < 0.05). Pre-treatment serum IgG4 level or extra-orbital IgG4-RD involvement was similar among patients with or without malignancies. CONCLUSION: In this biopsy-proven IgG4-ROD cohort, 7% developed OAL which was 10 times higher than the general population. Patients with asymmetric lacrimal gland enlargement or without trigeminal nerves involvement radiologically were associated with OAL.

Treatment outcomes and their determinants of IgG4-related ophthalmic disease: a territory-wide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Oral corticosteroid remains the first-line treatment of IgG4-related ophthalmic disease, but steroid-dependence is common and serious. Factors associated with steroid dependence and relapse have to be further explored. STUDY POPULATION: A city-wide, biopsy-proven, Chinese cohort. METHODS: Retrospective, masked review of medical records, orbital images and histopathology reports. RESULTS: There were 101 patients with at least 24-month follow-up. Up to 82% (82/101) received oral corticosteroid as first-line treatments, and 7 of them received also concomitant steroid-sparing agents (SSA)/biological agents as primary treatment. There was 61% (50/82) of patients required long-term corticosteroid (alone=23, with SSA=27) after 1.9±0.7 (range 1-5) relapses. When compared with the 21% (17/82) of patients who tapered corticosteroid successfully for 24 months, steroid dependence was associated with elevated baseline serum IgG4 level (94% vs 65%, p<0.01) and Mikulicz syndrome (46% vs 18%, p<0.05). Up to 13% (11/82) of patients tolerated residual disease after tapering off corticosteroid. There was 17% (17/101) of patients did not require any medications after biopsies. They were more likely to have debulking surgeries (71% vs 40%, p<0.05), discrete orbital lesions (65% vs 26%, p<0.05), normal baseline serum IgG4 level (24% vs 6%, p<0.05) and no Mikulicz syndrome (94% vs 61%, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In this cohort, 60% of patients required long-term maintenance oral corticosteroid. Elevated pretreatment serum IgG4 level and Mikulicz syndrome were associated with steroid dependence. Debulking surgery is an alternative for a subgroup of patients with discrete orbital lesions, normal baseline IgG4 level and no Mikulicz syndrome.

Radiological Determinants of Complicated Immunoglobulin G4-Related Ophthalmic Disease: A Territory-Wide Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the presenting radiological features of immunoglobulin G4-related ophthalmic disease (IgG4-ROD) and their associations with IgG4-related optic neuropathy (IgG4-RON), and IgG4-related ocular adnexal lymphoma (IgG4-ROL). METHODS: A territory-wide, biopsy-proven, Chinese cohort. Masked review of orbital images, medical records, and histopathology reports. RESULTS: A total of 115 (94%) of the 122 patients in our cohort had preoperative orbital images (computed tomography=105, magnetic resonance imaging=40). Among them, 103/115 (90%) showed enlarged lacrimal glands, and 91 (88%) were bilateral. Nerve enlargement was observed: infraorbital in 31/115 (27%) patients and frontal in 17/115 (15%), 10 and 9 being bilateral, respectively. At least 1 or more extraocular muscle (EOM) enlargement was found in 41/115 (37%) patients, bilaterally in 20. Lateral rectus occurred in 30 (73%) of these 41 EOM patients and inferior rectus in 28 (68%). Two adjacent EOMs (inferior and lateral recti in 11 patients, inferior and medial recti in 7 patients) or multiple EOMs (at least 3) were enlarged in 23/41 (56%) and 13/41 (32%) of the patients, respectively. Intraconal lesions (67% vs 11%, P<0.05), infraorbital (83% vs 23%, P<0.005), or frontal (50% vs 15%, P<0.05) nerve enlargement was significantly associated with IgG4-RON (6 patients) by univariate analyses. Asymmetric lacrimal gland enlargement and discrete orbital mass (both P<0.05) were associated with IgG4-ROL (9 patients) by multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: In this IgG4-ROD cohort, most patients had bilateral enlarged lacrimal glands, and the lateral rectus is the most frequently involved EOM. For the first time, unique radiological patterns associated with the development of IgG4-RON and IgG4-ROL are found.

Escherichia coli BarA-UvrY regulates the pks island and kills Staphylococci via the genotoxin colibactin during interspecies competition.

Wound infections are often polymicrobial in nature, biofilm associated and therefore tolerant to antibiotic therapy, and associated with delayed healing. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus are among the most frequently cultured pathogens from wound infections. However, little is known about the frequency or consequence of E. coli and S. aureus polymicrobial interactions during wound infections. Here we show that E. coli kills Staphylococci, including S. aureus, both in vitro and in a mouse excisional wound model via the genotoxin, colibactin. Colibactin biosynthesis is encoded by the pks locus, which we identified in nearly 30% of human E. coli wound infection isolates. While it is not clear how colibactin is released from E. coli or how it penetrates target cells, we found that the colibactin intermediate N-myristoyl-D-Asn (NMDA) disrupts the S. aureus membrane. We also show that the BarA-UvrY two component system (TCS) senses the environment created during E. coli and S. aureus mixed species interaction, leading to upregulation of pks island genes. Further, we show that BarA-UvrY acts via the carbon storage global regulatory (Csr) system to control pks expression. Together, our data demonstrate the role of colibactin in interspecies competition and show that it is regulated by BarA-UvrY TCS during interspecies competition.

Wavefront aberrometry repeatability and agreement-A comparison between Pentacam AXL Wave, iTrace and OPD-Scan III.

INTRODUCTION: To compare intrasession agreement and repeatability of wavefront aberration measurements from three different aberrometers obtained using Hartmann-Shack, ray tracing and automated retinoscopy methods, as well as their interdevice agreement. METHODS: Three consecutive measurements were obtained using the Pentacam AXL Wave, the iTrace and the OPD-Scan III in 47 eyes of 47 patients. Wavefront refractions, root mean square of total aberrations (RMS total), RMS of higher-order aberrations (HOA) and second-, third- and fourth-order HOAs were exported for 4-mm pupils. Wavefront refractions were converted into vector components: M, J0 and J45 . Intrasession agreement and repeatability were evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and repeatability coefficients (RCs); interdevice agreement was assessed using the Bland-Altman method. RESULTS: The intrasession agreement and repeatability of RMS HOA were comparable between the three devices; both the Pentacam AXL Wave and the OPD-Scan III had better intrasession agreement and repeatability for the RMS total than the iTrace (p ≤ 0.02). Intrasession repeatability for the majority of second- and third-order aberrations was better on the Pentacam AXL Wave than on the iTrace (p ≤ 0.01) and OPD-Scan III (p ≤ 0.04), although their agreement and repeatability in spherical aberration were comparable (p ≥ 0.24). Significant systematic differences and proportional bias were detected for almost all refraction power vectors and Zernike coefficients among the three devices. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, all three devices provided good-to-excellent agreement for aberration measurements. Most of the individual Zernike's components were not exchangeable between different aberrometers. Their relative intrasession performance in agreement and repeatability varied significantly across different ocular aberration parameters.

Heme cross-feeding can augment Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis dual species biofilms.

The contribution of biofilms to virulence and as a barrier to treatment is well-established for Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, both nosocomial pathogens frequently isolated from biofilm-associated infections. Despite frequent co-isolation, their interactions in biofilms have not been well-characterized. We report that in combination, these two species can give rise to augmented biofilms biomass that is dependent on the activation of E. faecalis aerobic respiration. In E. faecalis, respiration requires both exogenous heme to activate the cydAB-encoded heme-dependent cytochrome bd, and the availability of O2. We determined that the ABC transporter encoded by cydDC contributes to heme import. In dual species biofilms, S. aureus provides the heme to activate E. faecalis respiration. S. aureus mutants deficient in heme biosynthesis were unable to augment biofilms whereas heme alone is sufficient to augment E. faecalis mono-species biofilms. Our results demonstrate that S. aureus-derived heme, likely in the form of released hemoproteins, promotes E. faecalis biofilm formation, and that E. faecalis gelatinase activity facilitates heme extraction from hemoproteins. This interspecies interaction and metabolic cross-feeding may explain the frequent co-occurrence of these microbes in biofilm-associated infections.

Enterococcus faecalis alters endo-lysosomal trafficking to replicate and persist within mammalian cells.

Enterococcus faecalis is a frequent opportunistic pathogen of wounds, whose infections are associated with biofilm formation, persistence, and recalcitrance toward treatment. We have previously shown that E. faecalis wound infection persists for at least 7 days. Here we report that viable E. faecalis are present within both immune and non-immune cells at the wound site up to 5 days after infection, raising the prospect that intracellular persistence contributes to chronic E. faecalis infection. Using in vitro keratinocyte and macrophage infection models, we show that E. faecalis becomes internalized and a subpopulation of bacteria can survive and replicate intracellularly. E. faecalis are internalized into keratinocytes primarily via macropinocytosis into single membrane-bound compartments and can persist in late endosomes up to 24 h after infection in the absence of colocalization with the lysosomal protease Cathepsin D or apparent fusion with the lysosome, suggesting that E. faecalis blocks endosomal maturation. Indeed, intracellular E. faecalis infection results in heterotypic intracellular trafficking with partial or absent labelling of E. faecalis-containing compartments with Rab5 and Rab7, small GTPases required for the endosome-lysosome trafficking. In addition, E. faecalis infection results in marked reduction of Rab5 and Rab7 protein levels which may also contribute to attenuated Rab incorporation into E. faecalis-containing compartments. Finally, we demonstrate that intracellular E. faecalis derived from infected keratinocytes are significantly more efficient in reinfecting new keratinocytes. Together, these data suggest that intracellular proliferation of E. faecalis may contribute to its persistence in the face of a robust immune response, providing a primed reservoir of bacteria for subsequent reinfection.

Mucosal Antibody Response to SARS-CoV-2 in Paediatric and Adult Patients: A Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 enters the body through inhalation or self-inoculation to mucosal surfaces. The kinetics of the ocular and nasal mucosal-specific-immunoglobulin A(IgA) responses remain under-studied. METHODS: Conjunctival fluid (CF, n = 140) and nasal epithelial lining fluid (NELF, n = 424) obtained by paper strips and plasma (n = 153) were collected longitudinally from SARS-CoV-2 paediatric (n = 34) and adult (n = 47) patients. The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein 1(S1)-specific mucosal antibody levels in COVID-19 patients, from hospital admission to six months post-diagnosis, were assessed. RESULTS: The mucosal antibody was IgA-predominant. In the NELF of asymptomatic paediatric patients, S1-specific IgA was induced as early as the first four days post-diagnosis. Their plasma S1-specific IgG levels were higher than in symptomatic patients in the second week after diagnosis. The IgA and IgG levels correlated positively with the surrogate neutralization readout. The detectable NELF "receptor-blocking" S1-specific IgA in the first week after diagnosis correlated with a rapid decline in viral load. CONCLUSIONS: Early and intense nasal S1-specific IgA levels link to a rapid decrease in viral load. Our results provide insights into the role of mucosal immunity in SARS-CoV-2 exposure and protection. There may be a role of NELF IgA in the screening and diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Ocular surface disturbance in patients after acute COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the ocular surface disturbances in COVID-19 patients discharged from the hospital. METHODS: One hundred and seventy-nine eyes of 109 healthy participants and 456 eyes of 228 post-COVID-19 patients received comprehensive eye examinations; the latter were interviewed with questionnaires on ocular symptoms before and after COVID-19 diagnosis. Associations of ocular surface manifestations with virological and ophthalmic parameters were evaluated by multivariable mixed linear or logistic regression models. RESULTS: Mean interval between COVID-19 diagnosis and ophthalmic evaluation was 52.23 ± 16.12 days. The severity of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) based on clinical staging was higher in post-COVID-19 than healthy eyes (1.14 ± 0.67 vs. 0.92 ± 0.68, p = 0.002) and so was ocular surface staining score (0.60 ± 0.69 vs. 0.49 ± 0.68, p = 0.044). Patients requiring supplementary oxygen during hospitalisation had shorter tear break-up time (ß -1.63, 95% CI -2.61 to -0.65). Cycle threshold (Ct) value from upper respiratory samples (inversely correlated with viral load) at diagnosis had an OR = 0.91 (95% CI 0.84-0.98) with new ocular surface symptoms 4 weeks after diagnosis. The presence of ocular surface symptoms 1 week prior to COVID-19 diagnosis showed an OR of 20.89 (95% CI 6.35-68.66) of persistent or new ocular symptoms 4 weeks afterward. CONCLUSIONS: MGD and ocular surface staining are more common and severe in post-COVID-19 patients. Patients with higher viral loads have greater risks of ocular surface symptoms. Patients requiring supplementary oxygen are more likely to show tear film instability. Ocular surface evaluation should be considered 1-3 months following hospital discharge for any COVID-19 patient.

Oculoplastic surgical simulation using goat sockets.

PURPOSE: To describe a reproducible and easily available goat socket model for training of various oculoplastic operations, and to evaluate trainees' perception of this training model in terms of their learning progress and satisfaction. METHODS: Goat sockets including orbital rim and eye with eyelids were harvested in form of a split-head model. Ophthalmology residents underwent individual surgical training using the goat socket model, supervised by an oculoplastic attending. Participants completed a questionnaire in form of a 5-point Likert Scale to evaluate their learning progress and satisfaction. OUTCOME MEASURES: Types of oculoplastic operations performed using the goat socket models, and participants' rating of their learning progress and satisfaction were reported. RESULTS: A wide range of oculoplastic operations including both eyelid and orbital operations could be simulated because of similarities of the goat eye model to the human eye anatomy. Fifteen ophthalmic trainees participated in surgical training using the goat eye model. All (100%) participants agreed that surgical simulation using the goat socket model increased their skills in surgical instrumentation and carrying out surgical steps, and their confidence in operating on patients. Most (87%) agreed the model resembled reasonably well compared to surgeries in human, and 93% would recommend training with the model to fellow resident ophthalmologists before operating on human patients. CONCLUSIONS: Oculoplastic surgical training using goat sockets is simple, readily available, and inexpensive. Trainee users showed promising feedback and positive learning progress using the goat socket model.

Transepithelial corneal collagen cross-linking using iontophoresis versus the Dresden protocol in progressive keratoconus: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Standard epithelium-off collagen cross-linking using Dresden protocol (S-CXL) is the standard of care for progressive keratoconus. Despite its efficacy, epithelial debridement is associated with pain, delayed visual rehabilitation, stromal oedema and haze. Minimising these complications while achieving a comparable efficacy remains an unmet need. METHODS: Comparative studies between transepithelial iontophoresis-assisted CXL (I-CXL) and S-CXL reporting the outcomes of visual, refractive, topographic, aberrometry, demarcation line, endothelial cell density, confocal microscopy or complications were identified from databases. Assessments of publication bias, meta-analyses, sensitivity analysis, subgroup analysis, and meta-regressions were performed. RESULTS: In this meta-analysis, 586 eyes from three randomised controlled trials and seven comparative studies were analysed. No differences were found in the change in uncorrected/corrected distance visual acuities, mean/maximum keratometry, central corneal thickness, higher order aberration, spherical aberration, coma, subbasal nerve/anterior stromal keratocyte density and demarcation line depth in both CXL protocols (P ≥ .052). However, I-CXL resulted in less thinning at the minimum pachymetry (standardised mean difference 0.25; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.06-0.44). More importantly, there was a significant reduction in complications following I-CXL (odds ratio 0.30; 95% CI 0.12-0.75). Meta-regression analyses on demarcation line depth and complication suggested that I-CXL was more effective than S-CXL when baseline maximum keratometry was >55.2 D and the risk of complication was independent of other baseline covariates. CONCLUSION: I-CXL has a more favourable safety profile, as evidenced by the available literature, with less thinning at the minimum pachymetry and reduced risk of complications while achieving comparable effects on visual, refractive, topographic, aberrometry, and morphological outcomes as S-CXL.

A Six-Year Review of the Latest Oculoplastic Surgical Development.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to summarize the literature from 2012 to 2018 on 4 common cosmetic periocular operative procedures including epicanthoplasty, lateral canthoplasty, and upper and lower blepharoplasty. DESIGN: Systematic review of epicanthoplasty, lateral canthoplasty, upper and lower blepharoplasty in the period of 6 years. METHODS: A systematic MEDLINE search by 2 independent reviewers was performed on PubMed using the search terms (blepharoplasty) OR double eyelid) OR lateral canthopexy) OR fat repositioning) OR epicanthoplasty) OR love band) AND (From January 2012 to January 2018). RESULTS: After screening 1456 abstracts from search results, 1377 were eliminated due to irrelevant content. Full text of the remaining 79 articles and relevant cross-references were reviewed and summarized. Studies on cosmetic epicanthoplasty reported Z-plasty or modifications (n=8), advancement flap (n=4) or skin redraping procedures (n=1), removal or release of the orbicularis muscle (n = 14), with (n = 6) or without (n = 11) tightening medial canthal tendon. In lateral canthoplasty, approaches to preserve continuity of eyelid margin prevent lateral canthal deformity with inconspicuous incision via gray line (n = 2) or upper eyelid (n = 2) were described. Techniques of upper blepharoplasties described included open incision method (n = 9) with (n = 5) or without (n = 3) orbicularis resection, subbrow approach (n = 1), nonincisional suture blepharoplasty (n = 2), or partial incision blepharoplasty (n = 1). For lower blepharoplasties, techniques described included blepharoplasty with fat transposition (n = 7), transconjunctival blepharoplasty (n = 3), transcutaneous blepharoplasty and canthopexy (n = 1) or orbicularis flap (n = 2), minimally invasive or laser-assisted blepharoplasty (n = 2). CONCLUSIONS: The recent trend of periocular surgical rejuvenation focuses on preserving soft tissue volume, avoiding skin or use hidden incision, taking the eyebrow and midface position into account, and measures to minimize iatrogenic eyelid malposition.